On The Road Again

One of the most enjoyable activities in marketing my novels is going on the road visiting independent bookstores. The people who own and run these stores are always happy to support local writers like me, taking my books on consignment. Having my novels on the shelves in these beautiful bookstores is no less than a dream come true.

Besides Amazon, A Better Life and The Price of Secrets can be found at lala books in Lowell, MA; Andover Bookstore in Andover, MA; Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord, NH; Main Street Bookends in Warner, NH; Morgan Hill Bookstore in New London, NH; and Henniker Book Farm and Gifts in Henniker, NH. If you have an opportunity to visit any of these amazing bookstores, you are in for a treat.

Releasing my novels into the world is life-changing. Finishing such a long and involved project so close to my heart is not only incredibly exciting, but a bit traumatic. The people of my novels become part of my life, part of me, and it feels like I lose a little of myself when I let them go. For a couple of weeks, even with the excitement of publishing The Price of Secrets, I felt a little down. I had trouble focusing on my new novel, which is not a great feeling for a writer. Then my brother bought me a coloring book.

When I open to a new, pristine coloring page, there is a sense of newness, not unlike a blank page in a notebook. And there are decisions to make. Where to start? What color/tone to use? As with writing, I just begin. It doesn’t matter where I start, as long as I start. Start filling in the blank spaces and a picture gradually emerges. Not so different from writing. Creating a scene, a conversation, a character’s observations, coloring in a space, big or small, all add to the complete picture.

The more I think about losing part of myself by sending my work into the world, the more I realize it’s just a transition. It’s huge, but simply writing this post helps me know I am still here and I am whole. I will keep showing up to the page every day with faith and persistence. Keep getting words down, keep coloring in the story.

Turning a Page

Last week I received a proof copy of my second novel, The Price of Secrets. It is such a magical gift to hold this book in my hands, this story of family and love, loyalty and secrets and revenge.

It’s an amazing experience to have a manuscript, almost 300 pages of a story I have lived with and labored over, characters I have loved and not loved, wondered and worried about, transformed into a book. Because this is my second novel, I had the thrill of adding an “Also by Norma Murphy” page, with my first novel, A Better Life, listed. It’s not exactly a list, but it’s exciting just the same.

Turning a page of a manuscript, a loose page, is so very different than turning a page in a bound book. Yes, the words are the same, but they are transformed, as if given a promotion of sorts. Elevated. That’s the word. And now the story is nearly ready for the world to see.

The Price of Secrets will be published and available on December 9. I am in the process of organizing a book launch and will get that information out as soon as possible.

I am in a unique place as an author, finished with the writing of this novel, beginning the promotion and marketing, while working on my third novel. Between two worlds. And turning a page.

Almost There, With Gratitude

Before A Better Life was published, just over three years ago, I began work on my new manuscript, which I called A Thousand Secrets. When people ask how my writing is going, if I have another novel yet, “I’m working on it,” I respond. “Making progress,” I say. And I have. And now, after countless drafts and revisions, suggestions from early readers, and a professional developmental edit, I have a completed 91,000-word manuscript. And a new title: Some Kind of Justice.

As with my first novel, I am in the process of deciding whether to seek an agent or to self-publish again. I now know firsthand the hard of work self-publishing and marketing, but I also know the incredible sense of accomplishment it brings. There is also a lot to be said for having complete control over every aspect of the publishing process and the joy of having independent book stores accept my book and honor it with a place on their shelves.

Even after three years, people are still buying and talking about A Better Life. I had a friend reach out last week who noticed the similarities between the novel and the heartbreaking events in New Hampshire involving a missing little girl, Harmony. The next day, a reader reached out to tell me how much she enjoyed the novel and that her book club chose it for this month’s reading and discussion. She, too, noticed the parallels between A Better Life and the tragic story of Harmony. My heart goes out to this little girl and I pray for her safe return. Maybe being a writer, being open to endless possibilities, helps me envision a hopeful scenario in which Harmony is somehow safe and protected by someone who is caring for her and will eventually return her to her mother.

I will be forever grateful for readers taking the time to write to me, to the positive reviews I have received on Amazon, as well as to the people I meet who tell me how much they enjoyed A Better Life. My new novel, Some Kind of Justice will be published this year. Whether it is through a traditional publisher or self-published, it will be in the hands of readers, and hopefully find a place in their hearts and minds as well.